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Exploring the Feasibility of Developing Expandable Station Modules for Generating Artificial Gravity Using Origami Principles / JONATHAN MORGAN

Swansea University Author: JONATHAN MORGAN

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Abstract

Microgravity is an ever-present challenge facing astronauts who spend any significant time in orbit due to its degenerative health effects on the human body. These health effects will be unacceptable for longer duration missions away from Earth, such as those to Mars, as the crew must maintain their...

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Published: Swansea University, Wales, UK. 2024
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Master of Research
Degree name: MSc by Research
Supervisor: Jelic, Z.
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68737
first_indexed 2025-01-24T13:44:44Z
last_indexed 2025-03-19T05:27:13Z
id cronfa68737
recordtype RisThesis
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spelling 2025-03-18T13:51:54.1939482 v2 68737 2025-01-24 Exploring the Feasibility of Developing Expandable Station Modules for Generating Artificial Gravity Using Origami Principles 040626efbbb66f3d0a112f6139653964 JONATHAN MORGAN JONATHAN MORGAN true false 2025-01-24 Microgravity is an ever-present challenge facing astronauts who spend any significant time in orbit due to its degenerative health effects on the human body. These health effects will be unacceptable for longer duration missions away from Earth, such as those to Mars, as the crew must maintain their physical capability to maximise the chances of mission success. This thesis explores the feasibility of a concept spacecraft module, making use of rigid-origami principles to produce an expandable structure, capable of being launched into orbit as a single object and requiring no further construction once launched. A module of this type would provide the crew with artificial gravity, particularly during non-work hours. A wide variety of considerations have been made to investigate the feasibility of such a module. Analysis using paper models showed that the module proposed in this thesis can be expected to fit within the standard payload fairings of the available launch vehicles. A mass estimate, using the calculated surface area of the ring structure and material data, showed that the module will weigh far less than the maximum payload weight of the proposed launch vehicles, providing the opportunity to also carry the necessary compressed air and internal furnishings on the same launch vehicle. GRANTA EduPack material property charts were used to determine that the best material for the rigid panels will likely fall into either the metals or polymers classifications. The findings of this thesis show that the proposed concept, while requiring further work to fully develop, is no longer held back by technological limitations as it was in the 20th century and can therefore be considered a feasible enhancement of space exploration. Furthermore, it may be critical to the success of future space exploration missions due to the increasingly long mission durations and the resulting effects of prolonged exposure to microgravity. E-Thesis Swansea University, Wales, UK. Artificial Gravity, Microgravity, Origami, Spacecraft Design 18 11 2024 2024-11-18 A selection of content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis to protect sensitive and personal information. COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Jelic, Z. Master of Research MSc by Research 2025-03-18T13:51:54.1939482 2025-01-24T13:10:29.2455787 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Aerospace Engineering JONATHAN MORGAN 1 68737__33402__9daf13472b024012b265a55dcbe1f1d3.pdf 2024_Morgan_J.final.68737.pdf 2025-01-24T13:34:30.3513708 Output 1585649 application/pdf E-Thesis – open access true Copyright: The Author, Jonathan C. Morgan Distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY 4.0). true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Exploring the Feasibility of Developing Expandable Station Modules for Generating Artificial Gravity Using Origami Principles
spellingShingle Exploring the Feasibility of Developing Expandable Station Modules for Generating Artificial Gravity Using Origami Principles
JONATHAN MORGAN
title_short Exploring the Feasibility of Developing Expandable Station Modules for Generating Artificial Gravity Using Origami Principles
title_full Exploring the Feasibility of Developing Expandable Station Modules for Generating Artificial Gravity Using Origami Principles
title_fullStr Exploring the Feasibility of Developing Expandable Station Modules for Generating Artificial Gravity Using Origami Principles
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the Feasibility of Developing Expandable Station Modules for Generating Artificial Gravity Using Origami Principles
title_sort Exploring the Feasibility of Developing Expandable Station Modules for Generating Artificial Gravity Using Origami Principles
author_id_str_mv 040626efbbb66f3d0a112f6139653964
author_id_fullname_str_mv 040626efbbb66f3d0a112f6139653964_***_JONATHAN MORGAN
author JONATHAN MORGAN
author2 JONATHAN MORGAN
format E-Thesis
publishDate 2024
institution Swansea University
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Aerospace Engineering{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Aerospace Engineering
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Microgravity is an ever-present challenge facing astronauts who spend any significant time in orbit due to its degenerative health effects on the human body. These health effects will be unacceptable for longer duration missions away from Earth, such as those to Mars, as the crew must maintain their physical capability to maximise the chances of mission success. This thesis explores the feasibility of a concept spacecraft module, making use of rigid-origami principles to produce an expandable structure, capable of being launched into orbit as a single object and requiring no further construction once launched. A module of this type would provide the crew with artificial gravity, particularly during non-work hours. A wide variety of considerations have been made to investigate the feasibility of such a module. Analysis using paper models showed that the module proposed in this thesis can be expected to fit within the standard payload fairings of the available launch vehicles. A mass estimate, using the calculated surface area of the ring structure and material data, showed that the module will weigh far less than the maximum payload weight of the proposed launch vehicles, providing the opportunity to also carry the necessary compressed air and internal furnishings on the same launch vehicle. GRANTA EduPack material property charts were used to determine that the best material for the rigid panels will likely fall into either the metals or polymers classifications. The findings of this thesis show that the proposed concept, while requiring further work to fully develop, is no longer held back by technological limitations as it was in the 20th century and can therefore be considered a feasible enhancement of space exploration. Furthermore, it may be critical to the success of future space exploration missions due to the increasingly long mission durations and the resulting effects of prolonged exposure to microgravity.
published_date 2024-11-18T06:04:09Z
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score 11.107367

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